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Dumaguete vs Manila cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ต๐ญ Dumaguete
๐ต๐ญ Manila
At a glance
- Where Dumaguete is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (67%โ), Convenience store (52%โ), Hotel night (49%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Dumaguete is easier to travel (2.4 vs 2.6). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Dumaguete 2 vs Manila 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Dumaguete | Manila | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | โฑ 150$2.63 | โฑ 280$4.91 | Dumaguete โ46% |
| Street food1 item | โฑ 40$0.7 | โฑ 50$0.88 | Dumaguete โ20% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | โฑ 450$7.89 | โฑ 800$14 | Dumaguete โ44% |
| Coffeeone cup | โฑ 130$2.28 | โฑ 150$2.63 | Dumaguete โ13% |
| Beerone bottle | โฑ 70$1.23 | โฑ 120$2.11 | Dumaguete โ42% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | โฑ 200$3.51 | โฑ 300$5.26 | Dumaguete โ33% |
| Bottled water | โฑ 20$0.35 | โฑ 25$0.44 | Dumaguete โ20% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | โฑ 30$0.53 | โฑ 63$1.11 | Dumaguete โ52% |
| Taxi5 km in town | โฑ 120$2.11 | โฑ 220$3.86 | Dumaguete โ45% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | โฑ 50$0.88 | โฑ 60$1.05 | Dumaguete โ17% |
| Transitone ride | โฑ 15$0.26 | โฑ 15$0.26 | similar |
| Scooter rentalper day | โฑ 400$7.02 | โฑ 500$8.77 | Dumaguete โ20% |
| Hotel night3-star | โฑ 1,800$31.6 | โฑ 3,500$61.4 | Dumaguete โ49% |
| Studio rent (month) | โฑ 16,000$281 | โฑ 25,000$439 | Dumaguete โ36% |
| Laundry | โฑ 40$0.7 | โฑ 60$1.05 | Dumaguete โ33% |
| SIM card1 week data | โฑ 200$3.51 | โฑ 350$6.14 | Dumaguete โ43% |
| Haircutcut | โฑ 100$1.75 | โฑ 180$3.16 | Dumaguete โ44% |
| Massage1 hour | โฑ 400$7.02 | โฑ 500$8.77 | Dumaguete โ20% |
| Half-day tourper person | โฑ 1,000$17.5 | โฑ 1,500$26.3 | Dumaguete โ33% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | โฑ 50$0.88 | โฑ 150$2.63 | Dumaguete โ67% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Dumaguete or Manila?
Dumaguete is 42% cheaper than Manila. Daily budget $57.8 vs $107; a month $1,046 vs $1,683.
Which is easier to travel, Dumaguete or Manila?
Dumaguete is easier: Dumaguete 2.4/5 vs Manila 2.6/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Dumaguete and Manila?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Dumaguete is about $1,046 and Manila about $1,683 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.